Air pollution control unit for internal combustion engines

ABSTRACT

An exhaust gas receiving chamber that has its front end connected by a pipe to the exhaust manifold of an internal combustion engine, and the rear end of the aforesaid chamber is connected to an outlet pipe. The aforesaid exhaust gas chamber has structure therein adapted to separate the contents of the exhaust gases, as will hereinafter be described. The top of the aforesaid exhaust gas chamber is provided with structures connected to two tubes, one of the tubes terminates in the top of a vacuum separator tank and the other tube terminates in the top of a second vacuum separator tank. The two aforesaid vacuum separator tanks are connected to a third tank located below the aforesaid vacuum separator tanks by means of tubes. The top of one of the aforesaid vacuum separator tanks is connected by a tube to the intake manifold of the internal combustion engine and the top of the other aforesaid vacuum separator tank is connected by a tube to the air cleaner of the aforesaid internal combustion engine.

Fox

AIR POLLUTION CONTROL UNIT FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES [76]Inventor: Rolan H. Fox, PO. Box 220,

Newcastle, Wyo. 82701 [22] Filed: Sept. 20, 1971 [21] App]. No.: 181,706

[52] U.S. Cl 60/279, 60/297, 123/119 A [51] Int. Cl F02m 25/06 [58]Field of Search 60/278, 279, 297, 311; 123/1 19 A [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 1,756,897 4/1930 Bilsky 60/279 1,992,266 2/1935Weeks 60/279 2,409,825 10/1946 Baringoltz 60/311 3,304,711 2/1967Eastman 60/279 Primary Examiner-Douglas Hart Attorney, Agent,orFirm-David I-l. Hill TO /I\/ TAKE 5 7 ABSTRACT An exhaust gasreceiving chamber that has its front end connected by a pipe to theexhaust manifold of an internal combustion engine, and the rear end ofthe aforesaid chamber is connected to an outlet pipe. The aforesaidexhaust gas chamber has structure therein adapted to separate thecontents of the exhaust gases, as will hereinafter be described. The topof the aforesaid exhaust gas chamber is provided with structuresconnected to two tubes, one of the tubes terminates in the top of avacuum separator tank and the other tube terminates in the top of asecond vacuum separator tank. The two aforesaid vacuum separator tanksare connected to a third tank located below the aforesaid vacuumseparator tanks by means of tubes. The top of one of the aforesaidvacuum separator tanks is connected by a tube to the intake manifold ofthe internal combustion engine and the top of the other aforesaid vacuumseparator tank is connected by a tube to the air cleaner of theaforesaid internal combustion engme.

6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR sign I E 1 of 2 3802.191

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I 11v VENTOR w ROLA/VHFOX 9 AIR POLLUTION CONTROL UNIT FOR INTERNALCOMBUSTION ENGINES This invention relates to internal combustionengines; more particularly, to a unit to reduce air pollution that iscaused by the expelling of exhaust gases from the tail pipe or pipes ofan internal combustion engine in an automobile or the like although theinvention can be adapted to any internal combustion engine regardless ofits use.

For the benefit of those less experienced in the art of air pollutioncontrol it is first herein explained that in this invention theaforesaid unit consists of four separate devices which are connectedtogether by tubes or the like, as will hereinafter be described. Theaforesaid devices are an exhaust gas chamber, two vacuum separatortanks, and a third tank.

It is to be realized at this time that while I personally prefer to callthis invention a Smog Control Unit I will hereinafter call it by thebroad term that is more readily understood by all as an Air PollutionControl Unit. Air can be polluted by the exhaust gases coming from aninternal combustion engine without necessarily producing smog as certaintemperatures and other conditions of the air are needed before smog canbe produced. It will be noted in the following specification of thisinvention that l have use the term emissions, this being due to the factthat emissions are defined in the dictionary as something emitted" andin this case the something is of course the exhaust gases of theinternal combustion engine.

It is obviously the principal object of this invention to provide an airpollution control unit for internal combustion engines that will greatlyreduce air pollution through the internal combustion engine exhaustemissions.

Another object of this invention is to provide an air pollution controlunit for internal combustion engines that will eliminate the need forengine manufacturers to redesign their engines in order to reduce airpollution that is caused by the exhaust emissions of the engines.

Another object of this invention is to provide an air pollution controlunit for internal combustion engines that will also permit the presentfuels to continue to be used in internal combustion engines.

Another object of this invention is to provide an air pollution controlunit for internal combustion engines, a unit that has neither movingparts nor does it require the use of chemicals in order to reduce airpollution caused by the exhaust emissions of the engines.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an air pollutioncontrol unit for internal combustion engines that can be installed onany internal combustion engine in a minimum of time and with a minimumof effort by nearly any mechanic or the like experienced either in theinternal combustion engine or mechanical arts.

Other and further objects and advantages of this novel invention will nodoubt come to mind as the reading of this specification and its appendedclaims proceeds and the accompanying drawings are examined in connectiontherewith.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a semi-diagrammatic view of this invention in its entirety.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinally disposed sectional view of the exhaust gaschamber of this invention, taken substantially along line 22 of FIG. 1,and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

In the two views of this invention, like parts of the invention areindicated by like reference numbers.

Directing ones attention first to FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings itwill be seen that the reference number 5 indicates that part of thisinvention which I call an exhaust gas chamber for want of a better name.The just mentioned exhaust gas chamber 5 consists of a cylindricalhousing 6 in which are located three equally spaced and parallel cones 7which can either be fabricated from sheet metal or the like. Theaforesaid chamber 5 contains three equally spaced and parallel cones 8which are fabricated from the same material as that of the aforesaidcones 7. Each cone 8 has a tubular member 9 secured in the apex thereof.Examination of FIG. 2 shows that the cones 7 are smaller in diameterthan cones 8 to which their bottoms 10 are secured by any suitablemeans. Cones 8, which are nearest the tail pipe 11, have their bottomssecured to the periphery of the cylindrical housing 6 that is located inparallel spaced relation to the perforated plate 13. The space betweenthe two plates 12 and 13 is filled with chromed ceramic balls 14, which,as a catalyst, oxidize the carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and reducenitrogen oxides to nitrogen. A capped opening 15, covered by cap 15A, isprovided in the aforesaid housing 6 be tween the two perforated plates12 and 13 in order to provide a means of placing the aforesaid balls I4within this described exhaust gas chamber 5. A drain opening 16, coveredby drain cap 16A, is located in theother side of the aforesaid housing6.

Continuing to look at FIG. 2 of the drawings it will be seen that thejust mentioned housing 6 is provided with three equally spaced andparallel perforated openings that are encompassed by upwardly extendingtubular outlets 17 that are capped with end plates 18 (FIG. 1). Eachtubular outlet is located at the base of one of the aforesaid sheetmetal cones 8, as one can see by looking at the appended drawings.Acone-shaped tube 19, having an opening 20 inthe apex thereof, islocated in each tubular outlet 17.

Before examining FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings it should berealized that this FIG. 1 is called a semi-diagrammatic view since it isonly an outline drawing. It is also because of the fact that theaforesaid exhaust gas chamber 5 is shown at ninety degrees to the otherdetails of the invention for reasons of clarity. Also, the figurecontains large outline arrows in the two vacuum separator tanks thatshow the direction of flow of the exhaust gases.

Directing ones attention now to FIG. 1 of the drawings it will be seenthat the three aforesaid tubular outlets 17 are connected together bytubes and also that the outlet nearest the front end of the aforesaidexhaust gas chamber is connected by a tube 21 to the vacuum separatortank 22. The just mentioned tube 21 extends down through the top 23. ofthe tank 22, as one can see by looking at the previously mentionedFIG. 1. The rearmost one of the aforesaid outlets 17 is likewiseconnected by a tube 24 that extends down through the top 25 of thevacuum tank 26. A water and oxides discharge tube 27 extends downwardfrom the bottom of the aforesaid vacuum separator tank 22, on throughthe top of the tank 28, which has a water drain off tube 29 extendingdownward from the bottom thereof. The aforesaid vacuum separator tank 26is likewise provided with a water and oxides discharge tube 30 that alsoextends downward through the top of the aforesaid tank 28. Eachdischarge tube 27 and 30 has its lower end terminating in the upper endof a rubber tube 31, which has an elongated opening 32 therein and aplug 33 in the bottom thereof.

Still looking at FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings it will be seenthat the aforesaid vacuum separator tank 22 has a tube 34 extendingoutward from the top thereof to be suitably connected to the intakemanifold of the internal combustion engine. This tube 34 is what Ipersonally call a low velocity tube. A like tube 35, extends outwardfrom the top of the aforesaid vacuum separator tank 26 to be suitablyconnected to the air cleaner of the engine. This tube is what Ipersonally call a high velocity tube.

The only part of this novel invention that l have not so far mentionedis the tube 36 that extends outward from the front end 37 of theaforesaid exhaust gas chamber to be connected to the exhaust manifold ofthe internal combustion engine. The previously mentioned outlet pipe 11extends outward from.the rear end 38 of the same aforesaid exhaust gaschamber 5 to replace the original stock muffler on the rear end of theoutlet pipe l1 which may terminate in open air.

The way in which this novel invention works is quite simple-When theaforesaid internal combustion engine having this unit connected theretois started, the exhaust emissions, consisting of unburned hydrocarbons,carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sodium, sulphur, chlorides, lead, andacids deriving from sulfides flow through the aforesaid tube 36 on intothe aforesaid exhaust gas chamber 5 which is provided with a pluralityof open and closed trap cones, which I hereinbefore called cones 8 and 7from whence the gases flow upward through the hydrocarbon receiver headswhich for simplicity in this specification and its appended claims Ihave herein called the tubular outlets 17. From the outlets 17 theemissions .are drawn by vacuum through the aforesaidtubes 21 and 24 tothe vacuum separator tanks 22 and 26, where the emissions are separatedas indicated by the large arrows in FlG. l of the accompanying drawings.In the just mentioned tanks, the hydrocarbons are pulled off by vacuumand returned to the engine for reburning; the metal oxides and excesswater are dropped out through the bottom of the often mentioned vacuumseparator tanks 22 and 26 into the oxide trap which I have called a tank28 in this specification and its appended claims. This tank contains asponge or filter (not shown in the drawings) to trap the metal oxides.The water is drained off through the aforesaid water drain tube 29. Thecycle through this invention is continuous, thus reducing the noxiouscontent of the exhaust emissions before their final exit to theatmosphere through the aforesaid outlet pipe l l. The unit is designedto burn its own spoils over and over, using less atmospheric air. Theunit does not require ari air pump to force in good clean air to reducethe amount of hydrocarbons going through the exhaust system of theengine.

This invention is subject to any and all changes in detail design and/ormodifications that one may care to make in so long as the changes and/ormodifications all fall within the scope and intent of the appendedclaims.

What I now claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An air pollution control unit for an internal combustion engine ofthe type having an intake manifold, an exhaust manifold and an aircleaner, comprising an exhaust gas chamber having an input pipe at oneend thereof adapted to be connected to such-engine exhaust manifold forthe reception of the exhaust gases coming from such engine when it is inoperation, and an output, pipe at another end thereof first and secondvacuum separator tanks connected by respective tubes to said exhaust gaschamber, said first tank having a tube adapted to connect said firsttank with such engine intake manifold, and said second tank having atube adapted to connect said second tank to such engine air cleaner,

a third tank having a water drain tube in the bottom thereof, and

two tubes extending downwardly into the top of said third tank and beingrespectively connected to said first and second tanks.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein the said exhaust gas chambercontains a plurality of sheet metal cones in equal and parallel spacedrelation to each other, the second cone from the first mentioned pipebeing provided with a tubular member in the apex thereof as is everyother said com, the last one of which has its base secured to theperiphery of a perforated plate that is sccured in the said exhaust gaschamber.

3. The invention of claim 2, wherein the said exhaust gas chamber alsocontains a second perforated plate that is in parallel spaced relationto the first mentioned perforated plate; and a plurality of chromedceramic balls being located between the two perforated plates, the lastplate being in parallel spaced relation to said another end of thesaid'exhaust gas chamber.

4. The invention of claim 3, wherein the top of the said exhaust gaschamber is provided with a plurality of groups of a plurality ofopenings therein that are encompassed by upwardly extending tubes inwhich are located cone shaped tubes, each tube having an opening in theapex thereof that is located below an end plate which is secured to thetop of each upwardly extending tube.

5. The invention of claim 4, wherein the lower end of the said tube thatextends downward from the bottom of each vacuum separator tankterminates in the upper end of a rubber tube having an elongated openingin the side thereof; and a plug located in the bottom of the said rubbertube which is located in the said third tank.

ings in the rubber tubes.

1. An air pollution control unit for an internal combustion engine ofthe type having an intake manifold, an exhaust manifold and an aircleaner, comprising an exhaust gas chamber having an input pipe at oneend thereof adapted to be connected to such engine exhaust manifold forthe reception of the exhaust gases coming from such engine when it is inoperation, and an output pipe at another end thereof first and secondvacuum separator tanks connected by respective tubes to said exhaust gaschamber, said first tank having a tube adapted to connect said firsttank with such engine intake manifold, and said second tank having atube adapted to connect said second tank to such engine air cleaner, athird tank having a water drain tube in the bottom thereof, and twotubes extending downwardly into the top of said third tank and beingrespectively connected to said first and second tanks.
 2. The inventionof claim 1, wherein the said exhaust gas chamber contains a plurality ofsheet metal cones in equal and parallel spaced relation to each other,the second cone from the first mentioned pipe being provided with atubular member in the apex thereof as is every other said cone, the lastone of which has its base secured to the periphery of a perforated platethat is secured in the said exhaust gas chamber.
 3. The invention ofclaim 2, wherein the said exhaust gas chamber also contains a secondperforated plate that is in parallel spaced relation to the firstmentioned perforated plate; and a plurality of chromed ceramic ballsbeing located between the two perforated plates, the last plate being inparallel spaced relation to said another end of the said exhaust gaschamber.
 4. The invention of claim 3, wherein the top of the saidexhaust gas chamber is provided with a plurality of groups of aplurality of openings therein that are encompassed by upwardly extendingtubes in which are located cone shaped tubes, each tube having anopening in the apex thereof that is located below an end plate which issecured to the top of each upwardly extending tube.
 5. The invention ofclaim 4, wherein the lower end of the said tube that extends downwardfrom the bottom of each vacuum separator tank terminates in the upperend of a rubber tube having an elongated opening in the side thereof;and a plug located in the bottom of the said rubber tube which islocated in the said third tank.
 6. The invention of claim 5, wherein thesaid third tank is provided with a sponge filter to trap solids thatenter the said third tank through the elongated openings in the rubbertubes.